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Ditto it has a variety of meanings just like many other words in scripture.
I think of light as the awareness of God in a spiritual sense. When a person is not aware of God or denies God, then that is spiritual darkness.I think of darkness as night, and light as day.
Except there was no sin ( evil) in Genesis 1:1-2 where darkness is usedI think of light as the awareness of God in a spiritual sense. When a person is not aware of God or denies God, then that is spiritual darkness.
But, technically, light is energy and darkness is absence of energy. Or day and night as the energy of the sun illuminates the day and when the sun disappears, darkness falls. (simply stated)
One of my favorite books is Paradise Lost. I had parts of it memorized before I even picked up a Bible. Most peoples views on Lucifer are Milton's rather than Biblical. It has been a very popular book for centuries.As the story goes God created Lucifer good, but he rebelled because of pride and fell, became evil - the accuser
Did Jesus die so that God could bring all men without exception, whom He loved without limit, eternal life? (Universal Salvation) … If not, then just what sort of Godly “love” does John 3:16 illustrate?As for whether it means God loves all or not, the discussions over what is entailed by "world" seem to me to be more driven by attempts to preserve a theology than to naturally hold much weight. The arguments that restrict it always seem to work backwards from the interpretation rather than being drawn from within the text.
… then feel free to restrict it some other way and post YOUR findings. I chose the word “love” (suggested by another post) and the NASB95 translation (my personal preference) and the 4 Gospels (to limit the length of the post).Restricting to a particular lexical form doesn't really seem to me to be a legitimate restriction if the goal is to establish what the gospels say about God's love, especially since you appear to have filtered it conceptually not purely lexically given the restriction of God's love.
I agree.Thanks!
I don't think there has to be bad for there to be good. I mean in heaven there will only be good. Also I don't believe God created evil. If the story of Lucifer is correct, he was the creator of evil.
Is it Isa 45:7 you think says God created evil?
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
- KJV
I think the KJV's translation is an unfortunate one. I rather go with NASB.
The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating calamity;
I am the Lord who does all these.
— Isaiah 45:7
There are many verses containing the words "light" "dark." It depends on context. Genesis 1: 1-2 indicates light in one way (physical) but Jesus saying "just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father" (spiritual)Except there was no sin ( evil) in Genesis 1:1-2 where darkness is used
Context =If you look at v 3, 4 and following you may notice it is not referring to day and night because the sun is not created until later.It is sometimes but not all the time . Context determines its meaning .
darkness below has nothing to do with your definition above
Genesis 1:1-2
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty,darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
I think of light as the awareness of God in a spiritual sense. When a person is not aware of God or denies God, then that is spiritual darkness.
But, technically, light is energy and darkness is absence of energy. Or day and night as the energy of the sun illuminates the day and when the sun disappears, darkness falls. (simply stated)
I agree.
Isaiah 45:7 is best understood within its context:
[Isaiah 45:5-7 NASB95]
5 "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; 6 That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, 7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.
Can anyone else see a theme?
Verse 7 presents pairs of opposites that are intended to convey the message that God is God all alone and controls EVERYTHING from one extreme to the other … the ALPHA and OMEGA in NT terminology.
As has been noted, energy is light. According to physics, that is correct because the energy exploded into space and then was formed by gravitational forces into stars and suns.Context =If you look at v 3, 4 and following you may notice it is not referring to day and night because the sun is not created until later.
Is that a distinction without a difference?I agree as far as God is in control of everything, not that He controls everything.
Is that a distinction without a difference?
OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPRESENT, “Not my fault” … choose three.
OK, so maybe Augustine is more eloquent than I am.As Augustine says (Enchiridion xi): Since God is the highest good, He would not allow any evil to exist in His works, unless His omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil. This is part of the infinite goodness of God, that He should allow evil to exist, and out of it produce good.
ST.I.Q2.A3.Rep1.
Is that a distinction without a difference?
OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPRESENT, “Not my fault” … choose three.
OK, so maybe Augustine is more eloquent than I am.
However, I think that God does more than merely “allowing” sin to exist (yes, I changed “evil” to “sin” because we can agree that an act is sin and argue whether the result is ultimately good or evil). God placed Adam, Eve, the Tree and the Serpent in the same location … that was more than “allow”, God set the stage for the fall … so the ULTIMATE purpose must have been “worth it” in God’s opinion (which is good enough for me).
I believe God allows us to act according to our free will, even He could control us if he wanted. So God has the power to control everything, but doesn't.
OK, so maybe Augustine is more eloquent than I am.
However, I think that God does more than merely “allowing” sin to exist (yes, I changed “evil” to “sin” because we can agree that an act is sin and argue whether the result is ultimately good or evil). God placed Adam, Eve, the Tree and the Serpent in the same location … that was more than “allow”, God set the stage for the fall … so the ULTIMATE purpose must have been “worth it” in God’s opinion (which is good enough for me).
In my experience, God transforms our “heart” from a “fallen will” that instinctively flees from God and hides (to avoid having our sin exposed) just like Adam/Eve and John 3:20 to a “Christ-like will” that instinctively desires the things of God and to draw near to Him.
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